Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #2Review

I have just borne witness to the biggest turnaround in quality from one issue to the next that I have ever seen. I don’t know what made me pick up Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #2 after its frankly abysmal debut, but I’m glad I did because this entire issue was a pleasant surprise worthy of Darth Vader.

The tight scripting of Tim Siedell combined with Stephen Thompson’s crisp artwork makes for one heck of an opening, and the issue only skyrockets in craziness from there. This comic felt like a crime thriller set in the Empire as numerous undetectable threats cause Vader to react with quick and extreme measures. The scene with the Emperor’s bodyguards getting chastised? Harsh. But you can understand why it went down that way.

Yet for as thrilling as the explosions and brisk action are, the comic is light on anything of more substance. In fact, the Ninth Assassin ought to be one of the most interesting aspects of this book, but it’s when he shows up that the fun of this book takes a dive. Plus Thompson’s design for him just doesn’t work. His face mask is awkwardly shaped and his armor doesn’t make him look stealthy or deadly like a ninja. Nothing like a deformed Snake Eyes to suck the cool right out of your comic.

Honestly, this issue should have been the first in the series. If we found out about the assassin as the story progressed instead of having him presented to us in bland fashion, then this would be a series worth getting excited about. As it stands, this comic is fighting to make up lost ground; although it’s not doing a bad job of it.

Joshua writes for IGN. If the Powerpuff Girls are made of sugar, spice, and everything nice, then he is surely made of ketchup, pizza, and lightsaber replicas. Follow him on Twitter or IGN.

Good

Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin rebounds with an explosive thriller sure to get you interested.